EU Council extends for half-year sanctions against Russian economy

The EU Council decided on July 5 to extend for a
half-year, until Jan.31, 2019, sanctions against specific sectors of the
Russian economy, its website reported. The ruling extends restrictions on
conducting business with Russian banks, as well as the nation’s financial and
energy sectors. The ruling was reached after French and German leaders informed
the leaders of other European states about Russia’s failure to fulfil the Minsk
Accords.

Zenon Zawada: We believe the West will be able to maintain the pressure of sanctions
against Russia for another four years. This pressure is critical in trying to
ensure that Russia obeys international law.